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| Darius Taylor, Minnesota |
Realignment Recap: A decade after the league expanded to the East Coast with the additions of Rutgers and Maryland, the Big Ten made a splash by landing the two LA schools, a move that was the beginning of the end for the Pac-12. Following the Big 12's raid of the Pac-12, the Big Ten moved again to secure Oregon and Washington, giving the conference a footprint on both the West Coast and broader Pacific Northwest. With schools now across the country, the Big Ten moves to 18 teams and moves away from divisions, a new era for a conference fresh off a National Title. One would imagine the move will pay immediate dividends, with the four new programs all bringing with them notable brands and proven pedigrees to the equation. Whether that means one of the newcomers will be able to wrestle the league away from the clutches of Michigan and Ohio State remains to be seen, but should be a fascinating storyline as we kick things off this fall.
Power Rankings
10. Wisconsin Badgers
Offense: A quarterback battle that will extend into fall camp and potentially into the regular season will determine who is at the controls of the Wisconsin offense in 2024. Former Mississippi State transfer Braedyn Locke started three games last fall, but the staff brought in former Miami starter Tyer Van Dyke, who has the edge in experience but is coming off two frustrating seasons in a row. Locke knows the system better, but Van Dyke was brought on for a reason, and he seems to be on the inside track to being the starter in the opener.
Whoever ends up as starter will have the benefit of having one of the top Badger receivers in recent memory in Will Pauling, a junior who led the team with 837 yards and six touchdowns last season. Alongside him, Bryson Green and Trech Kekahuna are two other names to monitor - Green has flashed significant potential when healthy, while Kekahuna's performance in the ReliaQuest Bowl has the program excited about his future.
With Van Dyke and several key returning receivers, Wisconsin is certainly hoping this is the year the passing game takes off. But, at the end of the day, it's the ground game that should always be the heart and soul of this offense. Even with Braelon Allen now being a New York Jet, the Badgers still boast Chez Mellusi and Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker. Mellusi, who began his career with Clemson, has been impressive when healthy, but staying on the field has been a struggle - how will he handle the increased workload demands?
It was an uncharacteristically off 2023 for the Badger offensive line, allowing 23 sacks, but there's belief they should be improved. Tackles Jack Nelson and Riley Mahlman will play crucial roles in pass protection, while seniors Joe Huber and Jake Renfro open up lanes for the rushing attack.
Another full offseason will be very important for the program as a whole as they slowly acclimate to offensive coordinator Phil Longo's scheme. It was always going to take time for the personnel to adjust to an offense that will be much more up-tempo and aggressive down-the-field, but there's hope that this fall things could all come together on this side of the ball.
Defense: Coordinator Mike Tressel is back to run the Wisconsin defense, and his chief priority over the offseason was identifying some new playmakers up front. The Badgers weren't able to get after the quarterback as often as they would have liked a season ago, and they also worked in the portal to reload at linebacker.
Senior James Thompson Jr. will be a key returning piece on the D-Line, but others have to emerge. Sophomore Curt Neal will be counted on heavily, but depth in this position group is a concern. Fortunately, the linebacker corps behind them is awfully talented, bringing in several transfers expected to contribute right away. Tackett Curtis was impressive as a true freshman at USC and could slide right into the starting MLB spot, while Leon Lowery comes over from Syracuse and should also start.
It's good and bad news in the secondary, where the Badgers do lose several pieces, but also return a pair of proven defenders in Hunter Wohler and Ricardo Hallman. Wohler has progressed steadily during his time in Madison and is now expected to be one of the top safeties in the Big Ten, while Hallman will be the top corner. The staff has worked to improve the depth on the back-end, which should pay dividends with how tough the second half of Wisconsin's schedule appears.
Bottom Line: There were understandable growing pains for Luke Fickell and the new staff throughout 2023, but the hope is that the program takes steps forward this fall. It has the looks of a classic Wisconsin team, one that will run the ball effectively and play tough defense, but it will be the passing game that will be under the microscope once again. If the Badgers can become more balanced offensively, they should continue moving up the pecking order but if not, their ceiling feels capped as a middle-of-the-pack program. Either way, a difficult schedule doesn't help - the Badgers get Alabama in the non-conference and a late season stretch that includes Penn State, at Iowa, and Oregon all in a row.
11. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Offense: After flashing near the end of the 2022 season, Minnesota had high hopes for quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. But, the "Greek Rifle" struggled adjusting to the new offense under co-coordinators Greg Harbaugh Jr. and Matt Simon and ended up transferring out. In response, the staff brought on New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer, who led FCS in passing. Brosmer may need time to adjust to FBS ball, but he's received rave reviews over the offseason and has a proven pedigree at the collegiate level.
Joining Brosmer in the backfield will be tailback Darius Taylor, who the Gophers managed to keep in town despite rumors he was set to receive significant NIL interest elsewhere. Taylor looked well on his way to stardom before injuries derailed his 2023, but should be fully healthy for the fall. And if the injury bug hits again, the Gophers appear better prepared after bringing on a pair of transfer in Sieh Bangura from Ohio and Marcus Major from Oklahoma.
Daniel Jackson was the most important element of the Gopher offense last season and stayed in town, giving Brosmer a proven, reliable weapon to work with on the perimeter. Behind him, there's question marks, but plenty of potential. Le'Meke Brockington is healthy again after missing a big chunk of last fall, greater things are expected of former Charlotte transfer Elijah Spencer after a disappointing 2023, and Georgia transfer Tyler Williams could be a breakout candidate.
Minnesota doesn't get enough credit nationally for the excellent job they've done building a consistently strong offensive line. This could be one of the better groups in the conference, as four starters return, including likely All-Big Ten candidate Aireontae Ersery at left tackle. Fellow seniors Tyler Cooper and Quinn Carroll should keep the rush offense humming as they return at the guard spots.
Defense: Losing coordinator Joe Rossi to Michigan State was a massive blow over the offseason, but the hiring of Rutgers linebacker coach Corey Hetherman was well-received across the Big Ten landscape. Hetherman has plenty to work with, but improving the pass defense will be priority No. 1 this fall.
The Gophers will boast a veteran defensive line in 2024, with Jah Joyner, Jalen Logan-Redding, Deven Eastern, and Danny Striggow all familiar names. Joyner led the team with 46 pressures last fall and even greater things are expected of the talented junior - this could be the year it all comes together for him. Jaxon Howard, a Minnesota native who began his career at LSU, is back in his home state and should also factor into the rotation up front.
The biggest news for this defense is the healthy return of linebacker Cody Lindenberg, who missed most of last season with injuries. The rangy Lindenberg is an All-Conference talent when he's healthy, and it became clear just how much the Gophers missed him when he was out a year ago. Maverick Baranowski played a larger role than expected with Lindenberg hurt and performed admirably, now likely to lock down a starting role. Add in Devon Williams, back for his junior season, this should be a much stronger linebacker corps than the 2023 version.
Even with All-American safety Tyler Nubin, the secondary was the Achilles Heel of the Minnesota defense last season. Now Nubin is gone, but the Gophers are hopeful that the unit will be healthier, deeper, and more experienced, all equating to better play. Senior corner Justin Walley is a stud when healthy but couldn't stay on the field consistently enough in 2023. He's joined by a familiar face in Darius Green at safety, while the star of the 2022 bowl win, Coleman Bryson, is also going to see heavy snaps. P.J. Fleck and staff also managed to reel in one of the most talked about recruits in school history in safety Koi Percich, who they kept away from big boys like Ohio State and who made a name for himself in the All-American Bowl over the offseason.
Bottom Line: It was a frustrating seventh season for Fleck in the Twin Cities, with the Gophers falling back to 5-7 on the regular season and losing their final four games. The bowl victory did provide some much-needed momentum into the offseason and despite the loss of Rossi and Fleck's flirting with the UCLA job, they did a good job filling holes. The schedule is among the most difficult in the conference this year but if the Gophers can stay healthier than they did a season ago, an improvement on the record seems to be in the cards, and they could be a dark horse in this league.
12. Michigan State Spartans
Offense: New head coach Jonathan Smith brought over his offensive coordinator, Brian Lindgren, and his young quarterback, Aidan Chiles, with him from Oregon State to East Lansing. Chiles is still learning, and was more of a situational quarterback than anything else in his first season in college in 2023, but Smith is incredibly high on his potential. At the very least, his dual-threat ability should add an interesting element to this Spartan offense.
Veteran tailback Nate Carter should take some of the pressure off Chiles in the backfield after finishing a hair below 800 yards last season. However, the receiver corps is untested, and will have to learn quickly if the Spartans are to reach their potential. Senior Montorie Foster is a proven commodity but it's unclear who else will emerge beyond him - freshmen Nick Marsh and Jaylan Brown may see plenty of action in short order.
An underrated strength of this offense will be at tight end, where Smith also brought over Jack Velling, an All-Pac-12 recipient in 2023. Velling is a red zone threat and his blocking will also be important with this offensive line in flux. Beyond another OSU transfer, Tanner Miller, and left tackle Brandon Baldwin, there are concerns up front.
Defense: Although former head coach Mel Tucker was a defensive guy, he never was quite able to get this side of the ball going in East Lansing. Now, coordinator Joe Rossi comes in with something to prove, and will have his work cut out for him.
Losing Derrick Harmon and Simeon Barrow up front are major blows, although Michigan State is hopeful names like Khris Bogle and Georgia Tech transfer D'Quan Douse to make their presence felt. Fortunately, the linebacker corps should be solid behind him, giving reason to believe this front seven could be improved. Cal Haladay is a longtime contributor gearing up for his senior season, while sophomore Jordan Hall could be in for a huge 2024.
The secondary was a major problem throughout Tucker's tenure, and losing Jaden Mangham to Michigan over the offseason stung. However, just about every other key name is returning, including both corners, Chance Rucker and Charles Brantley, and senior nickelback Angelo Grose. Arizona State transfer Ed Woods should also be counted on heavily.
Bottom Line: Smith was a great hire who Michigan State managed to steal away from his alma mater. He's a winner through and through and at a place with significantly more resources than he had at Oregon State, he should have the Spartans on the rise in no time. With that being said, the debut season could be one of growing pains as Smith learns the ropes here. The non-conference slate could provide momentum early on, which will be needed before the Spartans embark on a terrifying late September and October stretch that includes Ohio State, at Oregon, Iowa, and at Michigan. But after a 4-8 mark during a lost 2023, a bowl could be still be in play, which would mark a solid debut for Smith and company.
13. Maryland Terrapins
Offense: Now the all-time leading passer in Maryland history, Taulia Tagovailoa exhausted his eligibility over the offseason, opening the door for a new face of the program in College Park. It's hard to know who will replace Tagovailoa - sophomore Cameron Edge and junior Billy Edwards Jr. are the holdovers, and the staff also brought in NC State transfer M.J. Morris. Edwards may have the inside track based on his showing in the Music City Bowl win, but Morris has an interesting skillset and shouldn't be ruled out.
With the turnover at QB, Maryland absolutely needs the ground game to be better after they averaged less than four yards per rush in 2023. Junior Roman Hemby is back, and hopes for a resurgence - he was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2022, but saw his production drop off a cliff last season.
This may be the most underrated receiver crops in the Big Ten. Kaden Prather has a very good chance to be a first-round NFL Draft selection next spring, while senior Taj Felton will also be a headache for opposing defenses. Add in juniors Octavian Smith and Shaleak Knotts, as well as tight end Preston Howard, whoever starts at quarterback will have options.
The offensive line was a problem in 2023, but the staff worked hard over the offseason to improve the position group through the portal. Aliou Bah comes over from Georgia and Alan Herron from Division II Shorter, both with good chances to start. They'll be joined by familiar faces like Kyle Long and Conor Fagan to form what should be a more consistent unit.
Defense: There is both good and bad news on the defensive side of the ball for the Terrapins. On one hand, the front seven has a chance to be elite, potentially one of the best in the Big Ten. On the other, the secondary was hit hard by departures over the offseason and will need to gel quickly to survive this new-look conference.
Up front, the trio of Quashon Fuller, Jordan Phillips, and Tommy Akingbesote are all experienced and should give opposing blockers constant problems. Behind them, veteran middle linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II will be counted on to make plays all over the field, as will senior Fa'Najae Gotay. Hyppolite was second on the team in tackles in 2023, with 66.
Being without Tarheb Still and Glendon Miller in the secondary is a problem. The pair combined for nine interceptions a season ago and even though Still missed time, he was their most consistent defender. Maryland is hopeful Lionell Whitaker, who played in 11 games last year, and others will emerge. Senior Dante Trader Jr. is at least back, too, after he had 53 tackles and six pass breakups last fall.
Bottom Line: Mike Locksley won just five games his first two seasons in College Park (although granted, one was the COVID year), but has since built the Terrapins into a consistent contender in the league. They've won 23 games over the last three seasons and have capped things off with three straight bowl victories - if they hadn't been playing in the loaded Big Ten East during that time, it's easy to daydream about what more they could have accomplished. As they begin life without Taulia, a step-back seems likely, but if they can find a quarterback and the secondary is better than expected, this ranking could be far too low especially with the schedule being so manageable.
14. Illinois Fighting Illini
Offense: There will be new faces dotting the Illini offense this fall, but the man under center will not change. Former Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer is the clear-cut starter as he enters his junior season, although he'll hope for more consistency after an up-and-down first season as starter in Champaign. Altmyer did end the season strong, so there's hope greater things are on the horizon in 2024.
Finding a new top target will be crucial for Altmyer, as Isaiah Williams is now gone. Veteran Pat Bryant has proven to be a reliable option, fresh off a season in which he hauled in 43 passes for 560 yards and seven touchdowns, but can he reach another level? The late addition of Zakhari Franklin, who has a relationship with coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. going back to their time at UTSA and who is currently the NCAA's active leader in receiving, was a big win for this staff. Franklin is coming off a down year at Ole Miss as he dealt with injury, but is the type of weapon on the perimeter Illinois has lacked in the past.
At tailback, Reggie Love III transferred inside the conference to Purdue, but the Illini are high on both junior Josh McCray and sophomore Kaden Feagin. Feagin is a player I'm keeping a particularly close eye on, a 6'3", 250-pound bruiser who looked the part as a freshman. Feagin was limited in the spring so McCray may get the first crack at feature duties, but don't be surprised if the sophomore soon takes over.
The offensive line appears to be a strength, as three starters are back and the Illini landed a big name in the portal in tackle J.C. Davis. Davis comes over from New Mexico, where he earned All-Mountain West honors, and should start right away at left tackle.
Defense: It wasn't a major surprise the defensive production dropped after coordinator Ryan Walters took the Purdue head coaching job, but just how much the group struggled was fairly shocking. They allowed 29.4 PPG, which was 96th nationally, putting pressure on coordinator Aaron Henry as he gears up for his second season in the role.
Losing Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph hurts significantly, as Newton was arguably the best interior D-Linemen in the country. Illinois is going to use a committee approach on the inside, while hoping others emerge. This is probably the greatest question mark on the entire roster.
Fortunately, outside linebackers Gabe Jacas and Seth Coleman are back to provide some pressure off the edge. Coleman will line up with his hand in the dirt when needed, and his six sacks were second on the team, while Jacas added four himself. Junior Dylan Rosiek, the team's leading tackler in 2023, is back to man the middle, giving plenty of reason to believe this rush defense could be stingy.
The secondary loses several key pieces, but could still be a strength with the defenders returning. Junior Miles Scott was second on the team in tackles last fall and will take on a larger leadership role, while the combo at corner with Jaheim Clarke and Tyler Strain could be solid. Safety Demetrius Hill is also healthy after missing most of last season with a torn ACL.
Bottom Line: After jumping to eight victories in 2022, last season's 5-7 effort felt quite flat in Champaign. Bret Bielema has made the Illini a much tougher matchup than they were under previous staffs, but enters a bit of a prove-it year, with a sub-.500 record overall at Illinois. The Illini are good enough to be a feisty out, much like they've been each of the last three seasons, but Altmyer's growth and the defensive improvement will determine whether they are able to climb up the Big Ten totem pole. The schedule isn't dreadful, but it's not easy either, meaning a bowl trip should be the primary goal as they look ahead towards 2024.
15. Northwestern Wildcats
Offense: For so long under Pat Fitzgerald's leadership, Northwestern's offense was defined by it's conservative, ground-and-pound approach. But, head coach David Braun appears ready to put his own fingerprints on the program now that he has the full-time job, bringing in OC Zach Lujan from South Dakota State to run the show.
Lujan will hope to run a more wide-open, aggressive approach, but finding a quarterback has to be where it all begins. Brendan Sullivan transferred to Iowa, and although sophomore Jack Lausch and senior Ryan Hilinski remain on the roster, newcomer Mike Wright may have the edge. Wright, who has previous pit stops in the SEC at Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, seems like the best fit for this offense with his dual-threat ability, assuming he can learn the playbook in short order after announcing his intentions to come to Northwestern in the spring.
With uncertainty at quarterback, the Wildcats are going to lean on their other skill position players, namely tailback Cam Porter and receivers Bryce Kirtz and A.J. Henning. Porter has 334 career carries and can be a workhorse, but Lujan may try and unload some of the burden on the veteran, with redshirt sophomore Joseph Himon II potentially playing an elevated role.
Up front, losing Josh Priebe to Michigan was a massive blow, but the Wildcats still boast experienced blockers with Ben Wrather Caleb Tiernan, and Josh Thompson all back. Sophomore Jordan Knox, a former highly touted recruit, could also be ready for more.
Defense: This is Braun's specialty, the defensive side of the ball, and he'll play an active role alongside coordinator Tim McGarigle. McGarigle, a former Northwestern linebacker, knows the program inside and out and while the 2024 version is short on star power, there's plenty of experience back.
The defensive line was a pleasant surprise last fall and should remain stout, with all four starters returning. Aidan Hubbard, who led the Wildcats with six sacks in 2023, will also be joined by seniors Jaylen Pate and Sean McLaughlin off the edge.
Senior linebacker Xander Mueller is one of the most under-appreciated defenders in the Big Ten, the type of steady, hard-nosed tacklers that has defined Northwestern football for years. He's back after notching 110 tackles and 10.5 TFL a year ago, although not having Bryce Gallagher next to him hurts. Junior Kenny Soares Jr. will be counted on heavily again, but the third starting job in this 4-3 look is up for grabs.
The secondary was hit hard by transfer departures over the offseason, and this will be an area of emphasis for McGarigle this fall. Safeties Devin Turner and Coco Azema are a good starting point, but the cornerback position is a bit of a question mark. Theran Johnson is sold, but the lack of depth behind him is a concern.
Bottom Line: Northwestern was one of the best stories of the 2023 season. Fresh off a 1-11 2022 and following a tumultuous offseason of scandal that led to the demise of Pat Fitzgerald, the Wildcats went out and won eight games, including a bowl victory, earning Braun the much-deserved full-time job. Braun will now have the opportunity to show what he can do in the long-term, and it's clear he wants to modernize the program for the new age of Big Ten football. Yet, 2024 could be a season of adjustment with the new offense and questions at quarterback, although Northwestern does seem to have a higher floor than others in the league. They'll be in the mix for the postseason, especially if they can take advantage of a soft early-season slate, and remain the type of hard-nosed competitors nobody in the conference wants to play each week.
16. Purdue Boilermakers
Offense: The marriage between quarterback Hudson Card and offensive coordinator Graham Harrell didn't quite produce the fireworks Purdue fans were hoping for in 2023. Card was still solid, throwing for 2,387 yards and 15 touchdowns, but it's fair to wonder if there's another level he can reach this year. He'll benefit from a full offseason with Harrell, as the two seemed to figure things out down the stretch.
Card will have to gel with his new-look receiver corps quickly, a group that underwent an offseason makeover. Deion Burks and T.J. Sheffield are gone, leaving the Boilermakers turning to a trio of former transfers: Jahmal Edrine from FAU, Kam Brown from UCLA, and C.J. Smith from Georgia. There's potential there, but none have put it together over the course of an entire year, which is concerning for an offense looking to get the ball down the field early and often.
Fortunately, Devin Mockobee should be a security blanket in the backfield, as the veteran returns after rushing for 811 yards a year ago. There's nothing flashy about Mockobee, but he's a bruising, reliable tailback who can be counted on to move the chains. He'll benefit from the addition of Illinois transfer Reggie Love III, taking some of the workload off his plate this fall.
The offensive line has gone through it's growing pains but seems to be in a good spot. Senior center Gus Hartwig is an anchor who should be among the best interior blockers in the league, and junior tackle Marcus Mbow is underrated. Ball State transfer Corey Stewart looks to be the favorite to start at left tackle - he was an All-MAC honoree with the Cardinals, but will need time to acclimate to the Power Four level.
Defense: Although the Boilermakers suffered through their fair share of defensive struggles during the Jeff Brohm era, it still came as a bit of a shock how poorly they played on this side of the ball a season ago. They allowed over 30 points per game, and only managed to hold a single opponent under that number the entire second half of the season.
Ryan Walters is hoping another year with his system in place will make all the difference, but Purdue will also need playmakers to emerge up front. Losing Nic Scourton, a potential first-round pick in next spring's NFL Draft, was a major blow over the offseason, but the Boilermakers are hopeful sophomores C.J. Madden and Will Heldt can emerge as effective pass rushers off the edge. Former Boston College transfer Shitta Sillah will bring experience, while senior Cole Brevard is set to anchor the interior.
Although there are questions on the defensive line, the linebacker group has a chance to be one of the more underrated in the conference. Senior Kydran Jenkins was a constant presence in opposing backfields last fall, with 15.5 tackles for loss, while junior Yanni Karlaftis, the younger brother of one-time Purdue star George, could be in store for a breakthrough.
Dillon Thieneman was unquestionably one of the few bright spots of the 2023 defense, finishing as the team leader in tackles and earning Freshman All-American honors. It will be exciting what he can do as an encore after becoming the first Purdue All-American defensive back in over three decades.
Thieneman is a great starting point, but the rest of the secondary will be a mix and match of former transfers. Nyland Green is over from Georgia, Kyndrich Breedlove from Colorado, and Salim Turner-Muhammed is a sixth-year senior who began his career at Stanford. Senior Markevious Brown, another former transfer from SEC country who played well last fall for the Boilermakers, will be crucial for the cornerback room but the success of the pass defense will hinge on how quickly these new pieces gel.
Bottom Line: In many ways, it was understandable that Purdue suffered through a frustrating debut campaign under Ryan Walters, a first-time head coach replacing one of the most successful coaches in program history. But, Year Two will tell us whether he's the right man for the job. On paper, the Boilermakers have the pieces in place to make a jump, but will it all come together? A difficult schedule doesn't help. Besides the opener against Indiana State, there's not a single game that you can 100% put in the "W" column - but there's also very few games you can definitively put under the "L" column either. It could be a situation where Purdue shows improvement and progress on the field, but that doesn't necessarily translate to the W-L record, at least in 2024.
17. Indiana Hoosiers
Offense: New head coach Curt Cignetti brings an offensive pedigree with him from James Madison, but 2024 will be about building stability on this side of the ball. Since an impressive 2020, the Hoosier offense has been defined by poor play, turnover, and a complete lack of playmakers - Cignetti won't change all that in one offseason, but this season should be a start.
Although Tayven Jackson is back after starting five games last season, Indiana is likely to turn to Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke to run the offense. Rourke wasn't quite up to his usual stuff last fall but in 2022, he tossed for 3,265 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Bobcats. At the very least, his big arm should get the ball down the field in a way that has been missing for the Hoosiers in recent years.
Rourke's favorite target should be Donaven McCulley, who Cignetti and staff managed to hold on to despite ample interest from other programs. McCulley led the Hoosiers in all receiving categories last fall and will be a key figure in the offense once again, while newcomers Myles Price and Elijah Sarratt provide further playmaking prowess.
It will be interesting to see how the Indiana offensive line fares in their first season under Cignetti. Much like the unit as a whole, this group had their fair shares of struggles in recent seasons, but returns two important anchors in senior Mike Katic at center and Carter Smith at left tackle. Smith entered the portal before Cignetti convinced him to return for his sophomore season, and he should be a building block for the program moving forward.
Defense: There is turnover throughout the Hoosier defense, with coordinator Bryant Haines likely to lean heavily on several players who followed Cignetti over from James Madison. That includes end Mikhail Kamara and tackle James Carpenter up front, both of whom impressed in the Sun Belt, but will need to acclimate to power conference football. Senior Jacob Mangum-Farrar is a holdover from the previous staff who notched 62 tackles in 2023 and should play a key role.
The big concern defensively is at linebacker, where Indiana is going to be breaking in plenty of fresh faces. Aiden Fisher and Jallin Walker are two others who followed Cignetti from JMU and they'll bring with them plenty of game experience but depth is a concern. There just aren't much proven pieces beyond these two, which could become a real problem the deeper the Hoosiers get into their Big Ten schedule.
Corner Jamari Sharpe was a key returnee in the secondary, but even greater things will be expected of him as one of the few returning starters on this defense. Senior safety Nic Toomer also provides a steadying presence despite missing time last fall, while Shawn Asbury II, who had previous stops at Boston College and Old Dominion, is also in line to start.
Bottom Line: There will be a lot of catching up to do for Cignetti and this new staff taking over a program that won just nine games over the last three seasons. However, Tom Allen proved that you can win here in Bloomington, and the administration appears committed to putting a winning football product on the field. Patience will still be important, and it's hard to imagine 2024 being a success considering the turnover throughout the roster. But, if this team can take advantage of a soft non-conference and perhaps win a league game or two, it should set the stage for brighter days ahead.
18. UCLA Bruins
Offense: Chip Kelly's departure means that the UCLA offense will look different in 2024, and new head coach DeShaun Foster made quite the splash by hiring former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to run the show. It's an interesting move - Bieniemy was once one of the hottest names on the NFL coaching market but his stock has cratered in recent years, and he hasn't coached in college since a stint as Colorado OC in 2011-12.
Fortunately for the Bruins, Bieniemy will have the luxury of having a veteran quarterback under center in Ethan Garbers. Garbers split time with highly touted true frosh Dante Moore last fall but Moore's transfer to Oregon over the offseason confirmed it will be all Garbers in 2024 after throwing for 1,136 yards and 11 touchdowns a season ago.
A former All-American tailback, Foster is likely to lean on the ground game as he begins his tenure as UCLA head man, which is good news for junior T.J. Harden. After splitting carries with the now departed Carson Steele last fall, it should be Harden as the feature option after he finished with 827 yards. Senior Keegan Jones is also likely to factor into the rotation.
J.Michael Sturdivant was an important piece for the Bruin offense in 2023 and his decision to return gives Bieniemy an important weapon to work with on the perimeter. However, the UCLA receiver corps is unproven beyond him, albeit talented. Senior Logan Loya should be featured heavily, and the ceiling is high for Notre Dame transfer Rico Flores after totaling nearly 400 yards in his true freshman season.
Defense: As significant as Kelly's departure was, the more significant blow to the program was the decision of D'Antony Lynn to move on the same role at crosstown rival USC. Lynn engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds in all of college football a season ago, taking the Bruin defense from one of the nation's worst to one of the best in the Pac-12.
Ikaika Malloe was promoted from DL coach to coordinator and will be tasked with maintaining the momentum from Lynn, which won't be easy as numerous faces depart. That's particularly true up front, with Laiatu Latu now in the NFL and the Murphy twins exhausting their eligibility.
Returning linebacker Kain Medrano will be counted on heavily, not only in run support but as a leader in this new-look locker room. He was second on the team in tackles in 2023, but don't be surprised if we see him get after the quarterback more often in Malloe's system. Senior JonJon Vaughns could be in line to start alongside him, and former Alabama transfer Ale Kaho is healthy again after missing most of last season.
Much like the linebacker corps, there's one key returnee in the secondary - corner Jaylin Davies - and plenty of questions beyond that. Davies is tremendous, a versatile defender with shutdown coverage abilities, but he can't do it alone. Fortunately Devin Kirkwood has been in the program for years, and should be ready at the opposite corner spot.
Bottom Line: Although UCLA had managed 25 victories over the last three seasons under Kelly, it became clear down the stretch last year the program needed a change of pace. As the Bruins make the jump to the Big Ten, DeShaun Foster will provide much-needed energy, and he knows the program inside and out. Most importantly, he seems committed to building a winner in Westwood in a way that Kelly simply wasn't, which is what the program needs as it begins a new era. With all that being said, it's almost a certainty there will be growing pains for the first-time head coach, especially considering he surrounded himself with a fairly inexperienced staff. There's still enough talent for this team to be respectable, but the defense is almost sure to take a step-back after the magic Lynn achieved in 2023, and it's hard to know what we will see offensively. Perhaps this team could surprise, but the most likely scenario is a long first season for Foster and company as they try to build out what this program is going to look like in the long-term.
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| Dillon Thieneman, Purdue |
All-Big Ten Teams
First Team
QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
WR Tez Johnson, Oregon
TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
OL Josh Conerly, Oregon
OL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
OL Logan Jones, Iowa
OL Jonah Monheim, USC
OL Ajani Cornelius, Oregon
DL J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
DL Mason Graham, Michigan
DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
DL Abdul Carter, Penn State
LB Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
LB Jay Higgins, Iowa
LB Mason Cobb, USC
CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
S Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
Second Team
QB Will Howard, Ohio State
RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
WR Evan Stewart, Oregon
WR Zachariah Branch, USC
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
OL Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
OL Sal Wormley, Penn State
OL Tanner Miller, Michigan State
OL Josh Priebe, Michigan
OL J.C. Davis, Illinois
DL Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
DL Ty Robinson, Nebraska
DL Bear Alexander, USC
DL Jordan Burch, Oregon
LB Nick Jackson, Iowa
LB Alphonzo Tuputala, Washington
LB Kobe King, Penn State
CB Jabbar Muhammed, Oregon
CB Justin Walley, Minnesota
S Jaylen Reed, Penn State
S Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
Superlatives
Offensive Player of the Year: Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Coach of the Year: Dan Lanning, Oregon
Freshman of the Year: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Transfer of the Year: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Oregon
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